Next: Running LilyPond for the first time, Up: Tutorial
The first example demonstrates how to enter the most elementary piece of music, a scale. A note can be entered by typing its name, from `a' through `g'. So, if you enter
{ c d e f g a b }
the result looks like this
Every piece of LilyPond input needs to have {curly braces} placed around the input. For the rest of this manual, most examples will omit these braces, but don't forget them in your own music!
In addition, many examples use relative
mode. This is explained
in Octave entry; for now simply be aware that some examples
should be placed inside \relative {
...music... }
Finally, LilyPond input is case sensitive. { c d e }
is
valid input; { C D E }
will produce an error message.
The duration of a note is specified by a number after the note name. `1' for a whole note, `2' for a half note, `4' for a quarter note and so on
a1 a2 a4 a16 a32
If you do not specify a duration, the duration last entered is used for the next notes. The duration of the first note in input defaults to a quarter
a a8 a a2 a
A rest is entered just like a note, but with the name `r'
r2 r4 r8 r16
Add a dot `.' after the duration to get a dotted note
a2. a4 a8. a16
The (or
time signature) can be set with the \time
command
\time 3/4 \time 6/8 \time 4/4
The
clef can be set using the \clef
command
\clef treble \clef bass \clef alto \clef tenor
Remember to enclose the notes and commands in curly braces
{ ... }
to convert it to printable output.
\time 3/4 \clef bass c2 e4 g2. f4 e d c2 r4
For more information on
- Entering pitches and durations
- see Pitches, and Durations.
- Clefs
- see Clef.
- Rests
- see Rests.
- Time signatures and other timing commands
- see Time signature.
This page is for LilyPond-2.8.8 (stable-branch).